All health centres in Uruzgan closed after Taliban threat

TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): After ‘a serious warning’ from Taliban militants, all health centres in central Uruzgan province have been closed, local residents said on Saturday.

Over the past few days, dozens of health centres were shut down in Trinkot, the provincial capital, and districts. The Civil hospital in Tirinkot situated 10 metres from the governor’s house was also finally closed today (Tuesday).

Residents, patients, and public representatives lashed out at the government for failing to prevent the successive closure of health clinics.

Nani, a patient who had come to Tirinkot, said he was told activities in the hospital had been suspended and patients were not being checked. He said the hospital was closed due to Taliban’s warning.

According to him, dozens of ailing men and women admitted in the hospital were all expelled today morning.

Another patient, Naqibullah, confirmed all patients were discharged from the civil hospital following Taliban’s threat. He said currently no medical centre all over the province was open to take in aling people.

A member of the provincial council member, Abdul Karim Karimi, urged insurgents to allow the hospitals to resume services.

He said the Taliban had ordered closed all hospitals across the province and the incompetent provincial government was doing nothing to deal with the situation. According to him, currently all health centers in the province were non-operational.

Uruzgan civil hospital director Dr. Aminullah Tokhai said they shut the hospital’s doors on Saturday morning after he received a recent threat from the Taliban.

He said he had shared the issue with government officials a few days back, but they didn’t cooperate and did nothing in this regard.

Tokhai didn’t clarify the reason behind the Taliban’s warning, but he was told if he didn’t close the hospital, his name would be added to the insurgents’ blacklist.